Vocabulary
What is vocabulary?
For developing adolescent readers, vocabulary here refers to academic vocabulary. These are words that students will see in multiple disciplines and in their life outside of school as well. This vocabulary is called Tier II vocabulary as well. Words like meter, synthesis, analysis, & abstract are examples of this type of vocabulary. Further down on this page, information about Tier II Vocabulary is provided for further study.
Characteristics of students who struggle with vocabulary:
Students can read and sound out words but have to look them up
Students need lower-lexile text to understand content
Students do not know prefixes, suffixes
Students use the same words over and over
Students cannot find meaning in words that have similar features as other words they do know.
Importance of Vocabulary:
Students who are more word-conscious are better readers, writers, and speakers. They are also able to understand content more easily because their vocabulary helps them make connections. Students who do not have access to a wide range of vocabulary may struggle in literacy activities because they do not have the language to express their knowledge or connect content to their own lives. A deficiency in vocabulary can lead to a lack of comprehension as students skip words when reading and a lack of expression as they are not able to support their ideas well in writing and speaking.
Vocabulary Activities:
Vocabulary Trees
Frayer Models
Possible Sentences
List, Group, Label
Upstairs Reading Vocabulary
5 Cycle Process
Vocabulary Activities
Multisensory Vocabulary Learning Game
List, Group, Label
Instructions and Graphic Organizer from Wisconsin DOE
Vocabulary resources
Academic Word Finder - Achieve the Core
This tool allows teachers to copy and paste text into the platform and it will identify academic vocabulary for particular grade levels and suggestions on how to explicitly teach that vocabulary.
CSRA RESA's Reading Resource Center Vocabulary Page